ULAS
University of Leicester Archaeological Services

Richard Buckley BA FSA MIFA

Director

After graduating from the University of Durham in 1979, Richard Buckley was a Field Officer with Leicestershire Archaeological Unit from 1980-1995, supervising urban and rural excavations, and completing  post-excavation analysis of a number of backlog sites and finds assemblages. In 1986, he instigated and coordinated the investigation of the structure of Leicester Castle Hall and John of Gaunt’s Cellar and in 1988-9, he co-directed a major urban project in Leicester, the Shires excavation. From 1990, his role changed to project manager of rural and urban projects of varying complexity, the largest being the Causeway Lane excavation in 1991 (team of 50).  With the closure of LAU in 1995, he formed (with Patrick Clay), University of Leicester Archaeological Services, a self funded entrepreneurial centre within the School of Archaeology and Ancient History.  In his role as co-director of ULAS, he continues to manage archaeological fieldwork projects principally in the East Midlands, specialising in urban sites and historic buildings.   Most recently, he has been consultant and project manager for the Highcross Leicester project, which led to three major excavations with a budget of over £4m.  He has also acted as consultant on schemes for the display and interpretation of Scheduled Ancient Monuments and has been an expert witness at two public inquiries. 

His publications include Leicester Town Defences (with J. Lucas, 1987), Leicester Castle Hall (with N.W. Alcock, 1987) Roman and Medieval Occupation in Causeway Lane, Leicester (with A. Connor 1999) and Leicester Abbey (with J Story and J Bourn) along with a number of interim reports and notes in Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, a journal which he edited between 1991 and 2003.  He has also co-written articles on a timber barn in Molise, Italy and on an ironworking site in Sarawak.

rjb16@le.ac.uk